Hell is a reality -- always has been (before and after Jesus's time on earth).
The Gospel is Good news.
"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20
Everyone has seen God's handiwork.
21 "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles." Romans 1:21-23
"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done." Romans 1:28
"Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:32
God says okay, I'll step out of your life and you can have what you want.
Usually, the worst of the worst are the celebrities.
I want to be famous. I don't care why (so many people say).
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans 2:1
We are also accountable.
Are you judging someone for something you yourself do? We cannot take our grace for granted.
"All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law." Romans 2:12
You'll get what you gave.
There is no one without sin.
There is no one who can follow the Law perfectly.
We all want to be graded in a curve.
That's not how it is.
Pass or fail.
You're with me or against me (Jesus says).
"No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God." Romans 2:29
People like to make rules. That isn't worship.
3"What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar.As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”[a] Romans 3:3-4
God's faithfulness is constant.
God never changes.
He doesn't have to change for us.
God didn't change with the gospel.
God is a just God.
We are His or we aren't.
Are you His?
10 "As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[a]
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[b]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[c]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[d]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[e]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[f] Romans 3:10-18
There is no one who is sinless (except Jesus Christ).
None of us are equal to God.
We cannot survive without Him.
The law doesn't save. It condemns.
"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousnessis given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:21-23
Here's the other side of it.
We can overcome who we are through Jesus Christ. You have to accept Christ to get there.
He didn't create it to be a fallen world.
We've trashed His creation.
Perfect justice, perfect Love.
"and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—" Romans 3:24-25
This is wonderfful news if you accept it.
It is heartbreaking if people reject it.
"Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law." Romans 3:31
Jesus helps us to uphold the law.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17
Paul gets to the good news in chapter 3!